Systematic Theology HB

Professor Berkhof died in 1957, at the age of 83. He was an outstanding American teacher and the author of some 22 books. After two pastorates, he began his long career as professor at Calvin Seminary, Grand Rapids, in 1906. Here he remained for 38 years, devoting his talents and immense stores of knowledge to the training of men for the ministry. His ‘Systematic Theology’ was his magnum opus, being revised and enlarged during his lifetime until it reached its present final form.

Berkhof’s loyalty to the well-defined lines of the Reformed Faith, his concise and compact style and his up-to-date treatment have made this work the most important twentieth century compendium of Reformed Theology. ‘The work seemed particularly important to me’, writes the author, ‘in view of the widespread doctrinal indifference of the present day, of the resulting superficiality and confusion in the minds of many professing Christians, of the insidious errors that are zealously propagated even from the pulpits, and of the alarming increase of all kinds of sects. If there ever was a time when the Church ought to guard her precious heritage, the deposit of the truth that was entrusted to her care, that time is now’.

TABLE OF CONTENTSEXPAND ↓

INTRODUCTORY VOLUME

The Idea and History of Dogmatic Theology

I. Names Applied to the Systematic Presentation of Theology 3

II. The Nature of Dogmas 6

III. The Idea of Dogmatic Theology 25

IV. The Task, Method, and Distribution of Dogmatics 44

V. History of Dogmatics 69

The Principia of Dogmatics

I. Principia in General 87

II. Religion 93

III. The Principium Cognoscendi Externum (Revelation) 112

IV. The Inspiration of Scripture 142

V. The Principium Cognoscendi Internum 170

Select Literature 189

Index of Authors 193

Index of Subjects 197

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

Part One – THE DOCTRINE OF GOD

The Being of God

I. The Existence of God: 19

II. The Knowability of God: 29

III. Relation of the Being and Attributes of God: 41

IV. The Names of God: 47

V. The Attributes of God in General: 52

VI. The Incommunicable Attributes: 57

VII. The Communicable Attributes: 64

VIII. The Holy Trinity: 82

The Works of God

I. The Divine Decrees in General: 100

II. Predestination: 109

III. Creation in General: 126

IV. Creation of the Spiritual World: 141

V. Creation of the Material World: 150

VI. Providence: 165

Part Two – THE DOCTRINE OF MAN IN RELATION TO GOD

Man in His Original State

I. The Origin of Man: 181

II. The Constitutional Nature of Man: 191

III. Man as the Image of God: 202

IV. Man in the Covenant of Works: 211

Man in the State of Sin

I. The Origin of Sin: 219

II. The Essential Character of Sin: 227

III. The Transmission of Sin: 237

IV. Sin in the Life of the Human Race: 244

V. The Punishment of Sin: 255

Man in the Covenant of Grace

I. Name and Concept of the Covenant: 262

II. The Covenant of Redemption: 265

III. Nature of the Covenant of Grace: 272

IV. The Dual Aspect of the Covenant: 284

V. The Different Dispensations of the Covenant: 290

Part Three – THE DOCTRINE OF THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST

The Person of Christ

I. The Doctrine of Christ in History: 305

II. The Names and Natures of Christ: 312

III. The Unipersonality of Christ: 321

The States of Christ

I. The State of Humiliation: 331

II. The State of Exaltation: 344

The Offices of Christ

I. Introduction: The Prophetic Office:

II. The Idea of the Offices in History 356

III. The Prophetic Office 357

IV. The Priestly Office:

V. The Scriptural Idea of a Priest 361

VI. The Sacrificial Work of Christ 362

VII. The Cause and Necessity of the Atonement:

VIII. The Moving Cause of the Atonement 367

IX. Historical Views Respecting the Necessity of the Atonement 368

X. Proofs for the Necessity of the Atonement 370

XI. Objections to the Doctrine of the Absolute Necessity of the Atonement 371

The Nature of the Atonement:

I. A. Statement of the Penal Substitutionary Doctrine of the Atonement: 373

II. Divergent Theories of the Atonement: 384

The Purpose and Extent of the Atonement: 392

III. A. The Purpose of the Atonement 392

B. The Extent of the Atonement 393

IV. The Intercessory Work of Christ: 400

V. The Kingly Office: 406

Part Four – THE DOCTRINE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE WORK OF REDEMPTION

I. Soteriology in General: 415

II. The Operation of the Holy Spirit in General: 423

III. Common Grace: 432

III. The Mystical Union: 447

IV. Calling in General and External Calling: 454

V. Regeneration and Effectual Calling: 465

VI. Conversion: 480

VII. Faith: 493

VIII. Justification: 510

IX. Sanctification: 527

X. Perseverance of the Saints: 545

Part Five – THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH AND OF THE MEANS OF GRACE

The Church

I. Scriptural Names of the Church and the Doctrine of the Church in History: 555

II. Nature of the Church: 562

III. The Government of the Church: 579

IV. The Power of the Church: 593

The Means of Grace

I. The Means of Grace in General: 604

II. The Word as a Means of Grace: 610

III. The Sacraments in General: 616

IV. Christian Baptism: 622

V. The Lord’s Supper: 644

Part Six – THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAST THINGS

Individual Eschatology

I. Introductory Chapter: 661

II. Physical Death: 668

III. The Immortality of the Soul: 672

IV. The Intermediate State: 679

General Eschatology

I. The Second Coming of Christ: 695

II. Millennial Views: 708

III. The Resurrection of the Dead: 720

IV. The Final Judgment: 728

V. The Final State: 735

Bibliography 739

Index of Authors 747

Index of Subjects 751